18 June, 2007

Our trip to HongKong & Shezhen was good and enjoyable, in between we had some spice story to tell.

Upon leaving Shezhen to Hongkong, the whole group in the coach was stopped by the hotel claiming that they have missing towel in room 2511. These 2 middle aged ladies wasn’t very please with the accusation, her brother – crew cut hair with scar of pimples shouted abruptly, ‘who will steal their towel? We know the hotel rules’, loud enough for everyone of us to hear.

After much persuasion from the tour leader, the 2 ladies agreed to search thru the luggage to prove their dignity, big bulky luggage bag was unloaded, everyone from the coach lead against the window to see the happening.

Sudden, one lady in the coach shouted, ‘Hey, I can recognize the light blue towel, it was from XYZ hotel, the checker towel from ABC hotel….’ And she went on, all the 3rd aunty and 6th granny (to describe the Caring group) in the coach rushed to the window to peep, the coach nearly overturn.

Full of embarrassment, the lady from Room 2511 gradually pulled out a white towel and hand over to the hotel housekeeper. Needless to tell the ending… she brought shame to all of us, even to our country as well.

Always remember that we are representing our country whenever we are in overseas. Try to behave well.

29 May, 2007

While we were in our dream land, someone shouted ‘theft stealing our car!!’, abruptly and reluctantly pull out from the dream, try to put ourselves together, instinct told us to arm with stick, rod, umbrella and my son….. with camera ??

Everything happened so fast, some shouted ‘not to go out, he may be armed with weapon !!’ some groaned ‘OPEN the DOOR !!’, some trigger the house alarm, some peeping behind window, it was in total mess…. And no one was take charge

The whole gin gang broke the door out, rush to the car porch, this so called … theft or intruder told us that he wish to sleep in the car. We can smell bear or rather he was drunk or under drug influenced, he dressed in shirt & sarong. We try to stop him by whacking him with whatever we have in hand.

My potential reporter son went on ‘click, click, click…’ the camera flashes, and also video clip the process.

The suspected theft was invited by the police to have free curry rice meal in the bar, 1st charge him for stealing (bicycle was found outside the fencing), 2nd charge him for illegally stay in Malaysia.

Post Mortem on the incident1. Too dangerous with the participation of the ‘too old’ and ‘too young’, may be held hostages should circumstance arises2. Got a chance to practice spanking and whacking… like the hero Jackie Chan did3. Potential of cultivating a professional photographer4. see the true self of neighborhood

24 May, 2007

I am always a careful driver since the day I got my license, I ensure that all the traffic signboards are follows religiously. One of the greatest reason behind this was I am very fearful of police, I maybe a theft or robber or a murderer in my past life.

2007 has marked a remarkable year for me, I am awarded the ‘tender’ to ferry my 3 school going kids to school, to tuition center, to music classes & others unplanned and ad-hoc trips.

The first few trips ended late for school, late for tuition or sent in to the wrong place, my customers (the kids) weren’t very happy about my performance, my 5 years old son Master L told me to speed up like the racing car (he adored all the F1 racers), he will give me morale support by making the ‘vroom vroom’ sound throughout the journey, he will hold his tuition book to pretend to be the steering wheel, his leg will act like he is pressing the petrol pedal, he will instruct me to close up the gap with the front car, to use the side lane if the main lane is crawling with queues. He also warned me not to drive with one hand and both hands must always glue on the steering wheel.

Master L also said that I need to put on my sun glasses to look cool, and better if I can put on the gloves as well. Vroom !!!!..... Here goes the mommy Choo speeding on the road.

The speediest driver on the road no longer belongs to youngster, the mummies too in the race.

15 May, 2007

Keep a few fresh Pandanus or Pandan leaves in your drawers and it will wand off the dirty, smelly cockroach, your drawer will stays clean with the leaves fragrant. Change the pandan leaves once it dries up.

I was once requested my mum to revoke the idea of cremation, mum told me not to be silly as it was Granny’s wish. I was consoled by my aunt that body was just a shelter for the soul, the body will no longer be used once the soul leave.

For the last ritual before send off, we were asked to lay some yellow ‘wang sheng’ papers (亡生纸) on top of granny, granny looks a bit skinnier then a day before. She looks pleasant and calm.

The coffin cover was closed, we walked her out to the road junction, and we were ferried by bus to ‘Sang Poh Cave’, the same place where my grandpa rest, granny was placed in a cement hut for the cremation. The fire went on and I can see the smoke rises up in the sky from far distance, my granny ashes raise together, up in the sky and to the place called ‘Kee Loke Sai Kai’, a place where granny told me that good people deserve to go….

14 May, 2007

Wish to share some info on gold & Jewellery which I had read it from “Penang Economic Monthly” newsletter lately.

Approximately 75 – 80 % or 48 – 52 tonnes of the gold and jewellery in Malaysia are manufactured or fabricated in Penang.

Penang is the major exporter of gold & jewellery in the South East Asian region. More than 70% of the gold & jewellery manufactured in Penang is for the export market. The major export markets are the Middle East at almost 90%, North & South America at 6% and European countries at 4%.

The gold & jewellery industry is a labour intensive industry, employs approx. 8,000 – 10,000 people in Penang. Over the past century, Penang has gained itself the reputation as possessing one of the finest gold craftsmanship in the world.

The Chinese have been the major players of the gold & jewellery, their experience encompasses manufacturing and trading of gold articles (bangles, necklace, bracelet, earrings, etc.) and gem setting (diamond & precious stones). Apart from the Chinese, there are smaller groups of Indian Muslim and Indian jewellers who are mainly involved in gem setting and are located around Jalan Masjid Kapitan and Market Street. The Indian Muslim and Indian jewelers main focus on retail, wholesale and small portion of import and export. Most of them provide the design and specifications based on their customer’s requirements to the Chinese goldsmiths and manufacturers for production.